Life for Potawatomi people has always been grounded in natural cycles. This was especially so when Potawatomi communities relied upon the seasons for their yearly hunt and harvest. Activities were guided, in part, by the month (lunar cycle) of the year. These months are referred to as Gizek [Moons]. Niben [Summer] was understood as a time of plenty. It was …
Bbon was a challenging time for Great Lakes tribes. Small families moved into the forest seeking shelter from the snow and cold. As resources declined, food that had been collected from the previous month’s hunts, harvests and gatherings were shared. To supplement winter supplies, Potawatomi ice fished, hunted and trapped small game. Meats and fish smoked and dried earlier were …
Potawatomi observed Bkongises in spring, but harvesting bark continued throughout the warmer months as tree sap flowed heavier. The more sap a tree produced, the easier it was to peel its bark. The sap also acted as a safety barrier, protecting the tree from pests and disease after it was peeled. A variety of bark species were harvested, each having …
Literally meaning “a shortening of the days,” dgwaget was a time of harvest and final preparation for winter. Food and supplies collected during the warmer months were readied for storage and travel. To honor the season and Creator for what was provided, Potawatomi hosted feasts and ceremonies during the Moons of autumn. Autumn held more moons than the other seasons …
The final moon of dgwaget was Giwségises. Taught at an early age, men were instructed by their fathers and uncles how to use the bow, spear and snare to hunt game large and small. Potawatomi used the village orchards that provided beechnuts, acorns and chestnuts in early fall as hunting and trapping grounds for foraging deer, turkey and fox. Gifts …
The Grand Kankakee Marsh is and was an important place for the Potawatomi people who live in around the Calumet region of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. This was once one of the largest continuous wetlands in North America in the Kankakee River Watershed, covering 1,500 square miles or approximately 1 million acres. Its western extent was near the present-day city …
Aside from being skilled hunters, fishermen and food gatherers, Potawatomi were successful agriculturalists. Villages used an ancient technique known as slash and burn to clear and convert forests into enriched agricultural fields. The size and pattern of fields utilized the land’s natural shape. Tools made of bone, stone and wood were used to cultivate a variety of crops. Foods planted …
A plant used to refer to the environmental conditions of a certain place. An example of an indicator plant would be Menomen or wild rice (Zizania spp.). Menomen is one of the most well-known indicator plants for the Neshnabek. Menomen is arguably the most significant cultural plant and it requires very clean, clear water that flows gently and does not …
Mnokme was the time when the spirits reawakened and life was restored. The thunder of approaching storms was believed to be the mnedok (spirits) returning home. Ceremonies were performed thanking the spirits for their winter protection and for fertility as new life emerged. The Potawatomi new year began with Nmébnégises (Sucker Fish Moon). As the rivers and lakes thawed the …
13in L x 8.5in W x 1.5in H The 234-page medical journal was researched and recorded by Joseph Napoleon Bourassa, who studied medicine at the Choctaw Academy and had close relationships with traditional medicine men before and after removal. Listed are health conditions and their medicinal therapies. Each treatment is recorded as a recipe, noting wild plants harvested and processed. …